Save a Limb, Save a Life: Amputation Prevention for Primary Care

Saturday, May 2, 2026, 7:30 AM - 12:30 PM, LVH-Cedar Crest, Allentown, PA


AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (4.00 hours), Contact Hours (4.00 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (4.00 hours)

Every year, thousands in our community face the threat of amputation because of diabetes, peripheral artery disease or nonhealing wounds. We refuse to let that be your story. At Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), the regions first and only formal Limb Preservation Program brings together top vascular surgeons, wound experts, podiatrists, cardiologists, infectious disease specialists, endocrinologists, hospitalists and rehabilitation therapists, all working as one team. This educational opportunity will give medical professionals the opportunity to learn from our team of experts that represent the Limb Preservation Program.

1. Recognize the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying diabetic foot ulcers and apply evidence based strategies for prevention, early identification, and initial treatment in the primary care setting.
2. Discuss how to initiate treatment in patients with severely uncontrolled diabetes presenting with A1C at or above the upper limit of measurement.
3. Learn how to implement brief, evidence based smoking cessation interventions during time limited encounters.
4. Identify appropriate candidates for hyperbaric oxygen therapy and counsel patients on the treatment process.
5. Learn to optimize guideline directed medical therapy for cardiovascular risk reduction in patients with peripheral artery disease and diabetes.
6. Interpret basic vascular assessment findings and recognize when arterial insufficiency requires urgent referral.
7. Screen for anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders in patients facing limb threatening conditions and initiate appropriate treatment or referral.
8. Differentiate wound colonization from true infection and apply evidence based criteria for obtaining cultures and initiating antibiotic therapy.
9. Recognize clinical indicators of wound care failure and determine when patients require emergency department evaluation or hospital admission.
10. Describe the rehabilitation trajectory following major lower extremity amputation and identify resources to support patient recovery.

1. Recognize the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying diabetic foot ulcers and apply evidence based strategies for prevention, early identification, and initial treatment in the primary care setting.
2. Discuss how to initiate treatment in patients with severely uncontrolled diabetes presenting with A1C at or above the upper limit of measurement.
3. Learn how to implement brief, evidence based smoking cessation interventions during time limited encounters.
4. Identify appropriate candidates for hyperbaric oxygen therapy and counsel patients on the treatment process.
5. Learn to optimize guideline directed medical therapy for cardiovascular risk reduction in patients with peripheral artery disease and diabetes.
6. Interpret basic vascular assessment findings and recognize when arterial insufficiency requires urgent referral.
7. Screen for anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders in patients facing limb threatening conditions and initiate appropriate treatment or referral.
8. Differentiate wound colonization from true infection and apply evidence based criteria for obtaining cultures and initiating antibiotic therapy.
9. Recognize clinical indicators of wound care failure and determine when patients require emergency department evaluation or hospital admission.
10. Describe the rehabilitation trajectory following major lower extremity amputation and identify resources to support patient recovery.

Lehigh Valley Health Network is accredited by the Pennsylvania Medical Society to provide continuing medical education for physicians.  Lehigh Valley Health Network designates this live educational activity for a maximum of 4 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)^TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the educational activity.

Lehigh Valley Health Network is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Completion Criteria: Registered Nurses attending the entire program will receive 4 Contact Hour(s).

Cancellation Policy

Lehigh Valley Health Network reserves the right to cancel or postpone this program if necessary; in the event of cancellation, course fees will be fully refunded. We are not responsible for other costs incurred such as non-refundable airline tickets or hotel penalties.

Accessibility Statement
 
Lehigh Valley Health Network is committed to ensuring that its programs, services, goods and facilities are accessible to individuals with disabilities as specified under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008.  If you have needs that require special accommodations, including dietary concerns, please contact the CME Conference Coordinator.

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Lehigh Valley Health Network adheres to ACCME Criteria, Standards and Policies regarding industry support of continuing medical education. Disclosure of faculty and their commercial relationships will be made prior to the activity.

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Lehigh Valley Health Network part of Jefferson adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or others are required to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

Saturday, May 2, 2026